Dual function bailer

ABSTRACT

An upper imperforate cap closes the uppermost end of a bailer and a lower imperforate cap closes the lowermost end of the bailer. In a preferred embodiment, screwthreads are formed in the uppermost and lowermost ends of the bailer and complemental screwthreads are formed in the upper and lower caps. By capping the opposite ends of a bailer, the bailer serves as its own container when the sample contained within it is shipped to a laboratory. This eliminates VOC devices, nozzles, and the concomitant contamination that may result from emptying a bailer in the field.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED DISCLOSURE

This disclosure is a divisional application claiming the benefit of thefiling date of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/681,814 filed on Jun.11, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,846,028, by the same inventor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates, generally, to bailers. More particularly, itrelates to a bailer that performs the function of a bailer and of asample container.

2. Description of the Prior Art

All conventional bailers require emptying into a sample containershortly after a sample has been taken from a body of water or otherliquid fluid. The sample container is then placed in a cooler andtransported to a lab so that the sample can be analyzed.

Most workers in the field simply invert the bailer to empty it. Thisemptying procedure is unacceptable, however, because it allows oxygen toenter the liquid fluid, thereby resulting in false data. Moreover, thepouring action agitates the liquid fluid.

To encourage workers in the field to empty bailers without invertingthem, numerous emptying devices have been developed that lift the valveat the lowermost end of the bailer from its valve seat. The most commonemptying device is a nozzle; another well-known device is known in theindustry as a VOC emptying device.

VOC devices, nozzles, and other emptying devices also add expense to thebailer manufacturing process.

Inventors in the bailer field have developed numerous emptying devices,but the problems associated therewith persist. What is needed is aninnovation that provides an answer to the bailer emptying problem.

However, in view of the prior art considered as a whole at the time thepresent invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinaryskill in the pertinent art how the answer could be provided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The longstanding but heretofore unfulfilled need for an improved bailerthat eliminates the contamination that may arise from in-the-fieldbailer emptying is now met by a new, useful, and nonobvious bailerconstruction. The novel construction includes a bailer having anelongate tubular body that has a first or upper end and a second orlower end. The second end has a one-way valved opening so that liquidfluid may flow into the elongate tubular body when the bailer isimmersed in a body of liquid fluid and so that liquid fluid issubstantially prevented from flowing our of the elongate tubular bodywhen the bailer is lifted from the body of liquid fluid.

In a first embodiment, an imperforate cap is adapted to fit onto thesecond, lower end of the elongate tubular body. The imperforate capprevents liquid fluid from flowing out of the second end of the elongatetubular body independently of the position of the bailer.

Screwthreads are formed in the second end and complemental screwthreadsare formed in the imperforate cap so that the imperforate cap isselectively screwthreadedly engageable and disengageable to the secondend. NPT threads are preferred.

An imperforate cap is also adapted to fit onto the first, uppermost endof the elongate tubular body. The imperforate cap prevents liquid fluidfrom flowing out of the first end of the elongate tubular bodyindependently of the position of the bailer. A smaller in diameter capis used at the uppermost end of the bailer in those bailer designs wherethe top end is tapered downwardly to have a smaller diameter than thediameter of the elongate tubular body.

Screwthreads are formed in the first end of the elongate tubular memberand complemental screwthreads are formed in the imperforate cap so thatthe imperforate cap is selectively screwthreadedly engageable anddisengageable to the first end.

Where the bailer is of the type having a downspout that depends from thesecond end of the elongate tubular member, an alternative embodiment ofthe invention provides an imperforate cap adapted to fit onto thedownspout. The imperforate cap prevents liquid fluid from flowing out ofthe downspout independently of the position of the bailer.

Screwthreads are formed in the downspout and complemental screwthreadsare formed in the imperforate cap so that the imperforate cap isselectively screwthreadedly engageable and disengageable to thedownspout.

In all embodiments, a press fit, snap fit, or any other suitablealternative to screwthreads may be used to releasably engage theimperforate cap to the tubular main body or downspout.

Accordingly, when a sample has been taken, the user need not employ aVOC device, nozzle, or other bailer-emptying device to transfer thecontents of the bailer into a sample container. No device of any kind isused to empty the bailer in the field. Instead, the appropriate caps aresecured to the bailer, and the bailer itself is shipped to a laboratory.Thus, the bailer serves the dual function of a bailer and as a samplecontainer. In this way, the bailer may be emptied in a sterilelaboratory free of contamination possibilities.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a highly innovative,revolutionary answer to the longstanding bailer-emptying problem.

A closely related object is to attain the foregoing object with a bailerconstruction that provides a bailer that is not emptied in the field.

Another closely related object is to provide a bailer that is emptiedonly after it has reached a laboratory.

Yet another object is to provide a bailer that reduces contamination ofa sample by eliminating any added oxygen of the type caused by pouringcollected liquid fluid from the uppermost end of the bailer or by usingan emptying device that empties the bailer from its lowermost end, suchcontamination causing incorrect sample data, i.e., producing falsereadings.

These and other important objects, advantages, and features of theinvention will become clear as this description proceeds.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combination of elements, and arrangement of parts that will beexemplified in the description set forth hereinafter and the scope ofthe invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded side elevational view of an illustrativeembodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is an exploded side elevational view of a second embodiment; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded side elevational view of a third embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, it will there be seen that the reference numeral 10denotes an illustrative embodiment of the present invention.

The invention has utility with bailers of all types. It will bedescribed first in connection with a bailer having more features than aconventional bailer, just to make it clear that the novel structure willwork with sophisticated bailers as well as common bailers having noextra features.

Bailer 10 includes handle 12 at its uppermost end to which is secured arope, not shown, to enable the lowering and lifting of the bailer intoand from a body of liquid fluid. In this sophisticated bailerembodiment, a weight housing 14 is slidingly received within tubularmain body 16 of the bailer and provides a means for holding top weightmembers, collectively denoted 18.

A spider assembly 20 is positioned near the lower end of tubular mainbody 16 and serves to guide hemispherical valve body or check ball 22 asit rises and falls with respect to valve seat 24. Valve stem 26 isslidingly received within an aperture formed in the center of spiderassembly 20 so that check ball 22 rises and separates from valve seat 24when liquid fluid flows into the interior of tubular main body 16 and sothat said check ball returns to its seated position against valve seat24 when said liquid fluid stops flowing into said tubular main body.

A lower set of weights, collectively denoted 28, is provided near thelowermost end of bailer 10, and a tubular fluid entry/discharge spout ordownspout 30 depends from valve seat 24.

In this particular embodiment, plug 32 having a vent opening 34 formedtherethrough closes the uppermost end of weight housing 14 (or theuppermost end of tubular main body 16 in less advanced bailers lackingsuch weight housing). In this embodiment, vent opening 34 is formed inboss 36 that is formed integrally with plug 32. For a more detaileddescription of the operation of this advanced design bailer, see aco-pending disclosure filed by the present inventor on Feb. 2, 2001,bearing Ser. No. 09/776,468, entitled “Controlled Slow Descent Bailer,”which disclosure is hereby incorporated by reference into thisdisclosure.

Screwthreads 16 a are formed in the uppermost end of tubular main body16 and screwthreads 16 b are formed in the lowermost end of said tubularmain body. Imperforate upper cap 40 has complementally formedscrewthreads 40 a formed in its inner cylindrical sidewalls thatscrewthreadedly engage screwthreads 16 a. Similarly, imperforate lowercap 42 has complementally formed screwthreads 42 a formed in its innercylindrical sidewalls that screwthreadedly engage screwthreads 16 b.Instead of inverting the bailer to empty it from its uppermost end,which is the most common practice in the field, and instead of using aVOC device or nozzle to lift check ball 22 from valve seat 24 asrequired when emptying a prior art bailer without inverting it, uppercap 40 is screwthreadedly engaged to threads 16 a and lower cap 42 isscrewthreadedly engaged to threads 16 b as soon as bailer 10 isretrieved from the sampled body of liquid fluid. Bailer 10 is thentransported to a lab. No contamination of its contents can arise in theprocess of emptying the bailer in the field into a container because nosuch emptying takes place. Instead, the bailer is emptied by laboratorypersonnel in sterile laboratory conditions.

FIG. 2 depicts an unweighted bailer. In this embodiment, screwthreads 30a are formed in downspout 30. A smaller-in-diameter cap 44 havingcomplementally formed screwthreads 44 a is used as an alternative tolower cap 42. Cap 44 also has less depth than lower cap 42 since it neednot accommodate valve seat 24 and downspout 30. Similarly, since thebailer of FIG. 2 lacks weight housing 14 and boss 36, upper cap 46 isalso of less depth than upper cap 40 because it need not accommodatesuch parts.

It should be understood that smaller cap 44 could also be used in theFIG. 1 embodiment in lieu of cap 42. Moreover, the caps may be pressfit, (FIG. 3) snapped onto, or otherwise releasably engaged to theirrespective parts of the bailer, it being understood that this inventionis not limited to the use of screwthreaded engagement means.

More particularly, in FIG. 3, internal threads 40 a of upper cap 40 andexternal threads 16 a formed in the upper end of tubular main body 16are eliminated. That enables upper cap 40 to be press fit onto tubularmain body 16 instead of being screwthreaded thereon. The same applies tothe lower end of the novel structure; internal threads of lower cap 42and external threads 16 b formed in the lower end of tubular main body16 are eliminated, thereby enabling lower cap 42 to be press fit ontothe lower end of tubular main body 16 instead of being screwthreadedlyengaged therewith.

Nor is the invention limited to releasable engagement of the upper andlower caps by means of screwtbreads, press fits, and snap fits of thetype expressly disclosed because there are many other types ofreleasable engagement means that are well-known, and all of such othermechanisms are within the scope of this invention.

A smaller cap such as cap 44 would also be used at the uppermost end ofthe bailer in those bailer designs where the top end is tapereddownwardly to have a smaller diameter than the diameter of the elongatetubular body.

This improvement is a revolutionary improvement in the art of bailers.No ground water sampling bailer has heretofore served as its owncontainer, i.e., no such bailer has heretofore been shipped to alaboratory while filled with a sample of liquid fluid to be analyzed.The invention thus renders superfluous both VOC devices, nozzles and thecontainers that receive the contents of a bailer. It further eliminatesthe possibility of contamination during the bailer emptying procedurethat heretofore always took place in the field. Moreover, the caps ofthis invention are less expensive to manufacture than VOC devices ornozzles, thereby making this greatly improved bailer even less expensivethan its less desirable predecessors.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, and those madeapparent from the foregoing description, are efficiently attained. Sincecertain changes may be made in the above construction without departingfrom the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matterscontained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention that, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Now that the invention has been described,

1. A bailer, comprising: an elongate tubular body having a first end anda second end; a handle secured to said first end, said handle adapted tobe engaged by a rope means to enable lowering and lifting of said bailerinto and from a body of liquid fluid; a first imperforate cap adapted toreleasably close said first end of said elongate tubular body; saidfirst imperforate cap, when secured to said first end, preventing liquidfluid from flowing out of said first end of said elongate tubular bodyindependently of the position of the bailer; said first imperforate capadapted to receive said handle when said first imperforate cap issecured to said first end of said elongate tubular body so that saidhandle is not removed when said first imperforate cap is placed intoclosing relation to said first end of said elongate tubular body; saidsecond end having a one-way valved opening so that liquid fluid flowsinto said elongate tubular body when said bailer is immersed in a bodyof liquid fluid and so that said liquid fluid is substantially preventedfrom flowing out of said elongate tubular body when said bailer islifted from said body of liquid fluid; a second imperforate cap adaptedto releasably close said second end of said elongate tubular body; saidsecond imperforate cap, when secured to said second end, preventingliquid fluid from flowing out of said second end of said elongatetubular body independently of the position of the bailer.
 2. The bailerof claim 1, wherein external screwthreads are formed in said first endof said elongate tubular body and wherein complemental internalscrewthreads are formed in said first imperforate cap so that said firstimperforate cap is selectively screwthreadedly engageable anddisengageable to said first end.
 3. The bailer of claim 1, whereinexternal screwtbreads are formed in said second end of said elongatetubular body and wherein complemental internal screwthreads are formedin said second imperforate cap so that said second imperforate cap isselectively screwthreadedly engageable and disengageable to said secondend of said elongate tubular body.
 4. The bailer of claim 1, whereinsaid first imperforate cap is press fit onto said first end of saidelongate tubular body.
 5. The bailer of claim 1, wherein said secondimperforate cap is press fit onto said second end of said elongatetubular body.